Method for knitting hosiery



V may 6, 1941@ R. L. BUNToN 2,241,291

METHOD FOR KNITTING HOSIERY Filed June 2:1.` 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 Heubz'zz L. Blz/212712 GMW/MJ R. L. BUNTON METHOD FOR KNITIIJING HOSIERY May e, 1941.

Filed June 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ebeubin Z/.Ezzm'azz y Patented Vay, 6, 194i .METHOD Fort mimmo nosmay Rheubin L. Bunton, Hickory, N.. C., assigner io George W. Gram Hickory, N. C.

Appucaumfrune 21, rsa1, sensi No. 149,539.

' s claims (orcs- 41) This invention-relates generally to anti-rave] mock. ribbed-top seamless hosiery; and, more particularly to mock .ribbed-top seamless stockings and a method and machine for producing" the same.

One object'of the invention is to provide a.A method of knitting on a circularknitting ma chine a mock ribbed-top stocking from top to toe, starting from the bare needles.

Another object of the` invention is to modify and improve a circular knitting machine to enable it to knit a mock ribbed-top stocking from top to toe, starting at theQtop with the bare needles. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide al mock-ribbed-top stocking, having the .top course laid in as an anti-ravel course. with the next course knitted thereto and to the succeeding courses.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide a mock ribbed-top stocking having the ilrst and second courses of the top formed of elastic yarn with the iirst course laid in as an antiravel course and succeeding courses knitted.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure luis a fragmentary perspective of a knitting machine involvedin the present invention;

rFigure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper part of a mock ribbed-top stocking constructed in accordance with the present in'vntion; j

Figure 3 is a development of part of the knitting wave and cams of a Scott and Williams rethereof is of a single thickness.` It is knitted from top to toeiand canV bev started on bare needles. The stocking .6 comprises a mock ribbed-top I connected by transfer 8 to the les' l. The first twocourses I and I I are formed of J covered rubber yarn;v theeilrst course being laid are used 'with the remaining thereby. y 9 is effected by sliding the cam I 5 out` of the path thosev of normal height. Thus in the operationv of the machine, there vare thre sets of needles of diiierent heights. The needles, in the upper Vrow I2 are'raised by .lacksV I2' of a predetermined length,.while those in the intermediate row I3 are raised by shorter Jacks I3'. No jacks lowex'most row of needles Il. e

The mock ribbed-top 1 oi the sock or stocking i is knitted by the .two upper rows. top is being knitted the lower row is depressed by a special sliding cam I5, so as to pass under the stitch cams I6 and I] without being affected The transfer from the top I to the leg of the lower ends of the needles, therebyfleaving all the needles in position for operation by the stitch and draw down cams in the usual manner. t

In starting the operation. the elastic yarn Il is moved^ by an adjustable yarn` feed I! into the position, shown in Figure 3, where the yarn will be laid in the hooks of the uppermost row of Y needles I2. The thread is thus caught by every fourth needle of the complete needle bank.

\ Since the needle bank iscylindrical, the nthread @between adjacent needles of the top row forms chords to the complete cylinder of needles; and

Vas the intermediate needles are raised under the actionof the 'stitch cams, the chords pass behind the intermediate row of needles I3.

. Upon completion of thefirst elastic course I0.

the elastic yarn feed I! drops the level (of the intermediate row Il, so that he needles in both `rows I2 and I3 may catch thethread: and

the second elastic course Il is knit; using every other needleof the entire needle bank. The elastic yarn'is then held and severed by the clamping mechanism designated generally by the v reference numerall; and-the inelastic yarn 2|- fed to the machine.

- The knitting ofthe mock ribbed-topl is con'- tinued,fby operation of the two upper rows oi' needles. through .the desired number of courses. inwiththesecond course knittedthereto. 'Upon 55 Then the transfer is eiiected automatically lby While thisremoval of the slide I5 from the path of the lowest row. All the needles of the entire needle bank then operate to complete the leg 9 of the stocking.

The invention is not concerned with the structural details of the yarn feed or clamping and severing mechanism, since these are old and well known in this art The novelty mainly resides in the use of two sets of jacks of different heights to raise every second and fourth needle of the entire needle bank to different heights above the remaining needles, While the latter are removed by the slide cam from operative contact with the stitching cams. This construction renders it possible to knit mechanically a complete mock ribbed-top stocking, starting with the bare nee' A dles and knitting through the .transfer from top to toe.

What I claim is:

1. The method of knitting an anti-rave] mock ribbed-top stocking on a. circular knitting machine' which consists in laying the yarn of the first course in the hooks of every fourth needle, feeding the yarn of succeeding courses to the hooks of the second and fourth needles until the mock ribbed-top is completed and then knitting in succession on all needles to complete the stocking. Y

2. The method of knitting an elastic welt mock ribbed-top stocking on a circular knitting machine Which consists -in laying an elastic yarn as a first course in the hooks of every fourth needle, feeding thesame elastic yarn as a second course to the hooks of all of the second and fourth needles, substituting an inelastic yarn for the elastic yarn and feeding said inelastic yarn to the hooks of the second and fourth needles until the mock ribbed-top is completed, and then knitting in succession on allv needles 'of the needle bank to complete the stocking.

3. The method of knitting an elastic welt mock ribbed-top stocking on a circular knitting ma'- chine, which consists in feeding an elastic yarn as a iirst course to the hooks of every fourth needle, substituting an inelastic yarn for the elastic yarn, feeding the substituted yarn to the hooks of the second and fourth needles until the mock ribbed-top is completed, and then knitting on allneedles to complete the stocking.

Y RHEUBIN L. BUNTON. 

